Strawberry plant named ‘NJ08-08-6’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant ( Fragaria×ananassa ), was developed from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross between ‘NJ01-73-3’ and ‘NJ03-232-2’. The new strawberry plant named ‘NJ08-08-6’ is distinguished by its highly vigorous, upright growth habit, high productivity, uniform fruit color and shape, and excellent fruit quality and flavor.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘NJ08-08-6’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry named ‘NJ08-08-6’ is a shortday cultivar similar to ‘Chandler’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262). The newcultivar is distinguished by its upright petioles and large, shiny fruitwith a uniform red color, uniform conical shape and excellent flavor.The cultivar is well adapted to high density plasticulture growingsystems and has been shown to perform well in the eastern United States.This new variety should be of commercial value, particularly for farmersthat sell fruit for fresh consumption directly to consumers inpick-your- own operations and at farmers markets.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The new ‘NJ08-08-6’ strawberry genotype was developed from a controlledcross of ‘NJ01-73-3’ (unpatented) as the female parent and ‘NJ03-232-2’(unpatented) as the male parent. The female parent ‘NJ01-73-3’ waschosen for its vigorous growth habit, high productivity, large fruit andexcellent fruit firmness; however, its fruit is poorly colored and lacksflavor. The male parent ‘NJ03-232-2’ was chosen for the excellent flavorof its fruit. Both parental genotypes are derivatives of many cycles ofcrosses and selection in a controlled breeding program at a major NewJersey university. Seeds of the cross were germinated in a greenhouseand planted in the field at a research farm in New Brunswick, N.J. in2008. After the first round of selection, the plant was evaluated fortwo seasons in small observational plots. The selected plant designatedas ‘NJ08-08-6’, was recognized as the best combination of parentalphenotypes, including high vigor, high productivity, and large flavorfulfruit of uniform shape and color. The ‘NJ08-08-6’ plant was thenasexually propagated using stolons for further evaluations from 2012 to2016 in observational and replicated trials in several locations in NewJersey, one location in North Carolina and one location in Maryland.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The ‘NJ08-08-6’ plant is primarily adapted to the climate and conditionsof the eastern United States (zones 5b, 6a & b, 7a & b, and 8a & b)where it demonstrates vigorous, upright plant growth, resulting inobservational reductions in strawberry pathogens. It is characterized byits high production of large, uniformly ripened and uniformly conicallyshaped fruit, with exceptionally sweet and aromatic flavors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 illustrates the characteristics (shape, size and coloring) oftypical ripened ‘NJ08-08-6’ fruit.

FIG. 2 illustrates the characteristic upright growth pattern of themature petioles and foliage of ‘NJ08-08-6’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Color references below are measured against The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S. 5^(th) Ed. 2007). Colors of foliage,flowers and fruit may vary with the age of the plant part, andvariations in abiotic conditions.

The ‘NJ08-08-6’ plant can be distinguished from other strawberryvarieties by the structure of its foliar growth. In the spring as theleaves arise from the crowns there is a rapid elongation of the petiolescausing an elevation of the leaf lobes and an upright mode of growth(FIG. 2). The petioles are very sturdy and remain in an upright positionfor most of the growing season.

Strawberry plant diameter and height are affected by the productionsystem and abiotic and biotic conditions during overwintering and thefollowing growing season. In the plasticulture system used in Pittstown,N.J., with plants grown 30 cm apart in double staggered rows, average‘NJ08-08-6’ plant diameter (not including stolons) was 38 cm and averageplant height was 28 cm. Measurements at the end of the harvest showedthat ‘NJ08-08-6’ had developed 5 crowns per plant and 4 stolons percrown on average (Pittstown, N.J. 2016).

‘NJ08-08-6’ leaves have 3 leaflets. Leaf width, measured with the 3leaflets flattened, averages 18 cm. Leaf petiole length is 11 to 32 cm,leaf petiole diameter is 0.4 cm. Leaf petioles are green (RHS 146D) andhave upwards and outwards hair. Stipules at the base of the petiole are3.2 cm long and 0.7 cm wide on average. The stipule surface is smoothand light green with medium anthocyanin coloration (RHS N34C).

The terminal leaflet has an obtuse shape of base, and serrate to crenatemargin with 23 serrations on average. The terminal leaflet blade is 9.6cm long and 8.3 cm wide on average. The upper leaflet surface color isgreen (RHS 137A-B) and the lower leaflet surface color is yellow-green(RHS 148A). Terminal leaflet petiolule length averages 1.3 cm, andpetiolule diameter averages 0.2 cm. The petiolule color is green (RHS146D).

The position of the ‘NJ08-08-6’ inflorescence is level with the foliage.‘NJ08-08-6’ plants are in full flower early to mid-May (Pittstown, N.J.,2016). ‘NJ08-08-6’ plants developed 35 to 62 flowers per plant with anaverage of 46 flowers per plant (Pittstown, N.J., 2016). ‘NJ08-08-6’flowers have 5 petals and 10 sepals on average. ‘NJ08-08-6’ flowerpetals are white (RHS 155B), have a smooth edge, and are usually nottouching. ‘NJ08-08-6’ petals are as long as wide (Table 1), and have arounded shape on the outside of the flower, but a convergent shape atthe base of the flower. ‘NJ08-08-6’ petal characteristics differ fromthose of ‘Chandler’ which has overlapping petals that are slightlyshorter than wide with a round shape both on the outside and the base ofthe flower (except for a small rectangular petal attachment to thebase). The ‘NJ08-08-6’ flower pedicel has hair with a horizontalattitude (as opposed to upwards for ‘Chandler’). Flowers have numerouspistils and usually 24 to 30 anthers.

‘NJ08-08-6’ fruit trusses are 19 cm long on average. ‘Chandler’ fruittrusses are usually longer with an average of 25 cm. In plasticulture,fruit trusses often lay on the plastic around the crowns because of theweight of the fruit.

The upright foliage and prostate fruit trusses make the lower parts ofthe ‘NJ08-08-6’ bush more open to air movement and the micro-environmentless favorable for the development of leaf and fruit diseases. Duringthe two year observational field evaluations at a research farm in NewBrunswick, N.J., no pesticides or other protective measures were used.During this time, the plant displayed no visually detrimental symptomsof disease on its foliage or fruit.

The time from flowering to fruit ripening (harvest) ranges from 28-34days, which categorizes this genotype as a mid-season variety. Fruitturns red acropetally, from the fruit calyx toward the tip. Underparticularly warm conditions in the spring, a primary fruit can becomecompletely red in a single day; however, formation of sugars, aromaticsand other quality constituents requires at least 2 additional days.

The most distinctive feature of the ‘NJ08-08-6’ plant is the ripenedfruit (FIG. 1). ‘NJ08-08-6’ fruit has an appealing shiny red color (RHS44C and RHS 45C), and a uniform conical shape with a length/width ratioof 1.3 for both primary and secondary fruit (TABLE 2). Fruit flesh andcore are red (flesh RHS 46B, core RHS 44B). Achenes are yellow-green(RHS 152D-153C). The position of the achenes is level with the fruitsurface. The number of achenes counted on 5 secondary fruit averaged190. ‘NJ08-08-6’ weighted average fruit weight was large in most trials,but varied in magnitude relative to ‘Chandler’ (TABLE 3).

‘NJ08-08-6’ fruit is smooth, solid and firm when handled and displayssome degree of resistance to fruit rot. The sweetness and aroma of thefruit supersedes the quality found in known commercially grownstrawberry varieties. During the 2013 season strawberries from the‘NJ08-08-6’ plants were compared with ‘Chandler’ by 20 panelists at oneof the research locations. In this survey ‘NJ08-08-6’ rated higher forsweetness, acidity and overall flavor compared to ‘Chandler’. This isconfirmed by data of percentage Brix which is usually higher for‘NJ08-08-6’ than for ‘Chandler’ fruit (TABLE 3).

TABLE 1 Flower characteristics of ‘NJ08-08-6’ and ‘Chandler’, Pittstown,New Jersey 2016 Characteristic^(x) ‘NJ08-08-6’ ‘Chandler’ Corolladiameter (mm) 33 33 Calyx diameter (mm) 25 27 Petal length (mm) 14 13Petal width (mm) 14 15 Petal color White (155B) White (155B) Inner Sepallength (mm) 9 10 Outer Sepal length (mm) 9 7 Inner Sepal width (mm) 6 5Outer Sepal width (mm) 5 5 Sepal color Green (141A) Green (141A)^(x)Data are averages of 10 observations on secondary flowers. Petalsand sepals were spread out flat for corolla and calyx diametermeasurements. Color references are measured against The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S. 5^(th) Ed. 2007).

TABLE 2 Fruit characteristics of ‘NJ08-08-6’ and ‘Chandler’, Pittstown,New Jersey 2016 Characteristic^(x) ‘NJ08-08-6’ ‘Chandler’ Primary FruitLength (mm) 47 40 Primary Fruit Width (mm) 36 35 Primary Fruit Thickness(mm) 32 32 Primary Fruit Length/Width 1.3 1.2 Primary Fruit Weight (g)22 20 Secondary Fruit Length (mm) 42 36 Secondary Fruit Width (mm) 32 34Secondary Fruit Thickness (mm) 30 31 Secondary Fruit Length/Width 1.31.1 Secondary Fruit Weight (g) 17 17 ^(x)Data are averages of 20measurements.

TABLE 3 Field performance of ‘NJ08-08-6’ and ‘Chandler’ in New Jerseytrials ‘NJ08-08-6’ ‘NJ08-08-6’ Marketable Weighted Average ‘NJ08-08-6’Trial Location Yield^(x) Fruit Weight^(x,xx) Brix^(xxx) and Harvest Year(lb/A) (g) (%) Pittstown 2013 13,520 19.9 7.5 Pittstown 2014 8,093 16.88.8 Pittstown 2015 15,205 15.1 7.5 Pittstown 2016 12,992 16.5 9.6 NorthBrunswick 2013 10,835 10.3 8.2 North Brunswick 2014 11,120 17.0 9.3North Brunswick 2015 13,190 15.8 9.4 ‘Chandler’ ‘Chandler’ MarketableWeighted Average ‘Chandler’ Trial Location Yield^(x) Fruit Weight^(x,xx)Brix^(xxx) and Harvest Year (lb/A) (g) (%) Pittstown 2013 12,420 18.57.1 Pittstown 2014 9,018 19.2 7.9 Pittstown 2015 16,938 15.1 7.0Pittstown 2016 16,456 17.6 8.5 North Brunswick 2013 4,191 12.0 8.3 NorthBrunswick 2014 12,187 17.1 8.3 North Brunswick 2015 16,193 17.9 7.7^(x)Data are averages of 4 plots, except for Pittstown 2013 ‘Chandler’(3 plots). ^(xx)Weighted average fruit weight is total marketable yielddivided by total number of fruit harvested per plot. Total number offruit harvested per plot was estimated by dividing marketable yield byaverage fruit weight (determined on a sample of 20 fruit, or on allfruit if fewer than 20 present) for each harvest, and summing the numberof fruit for all harvests. ^(xxx)Brix was determined at part of theharvests. Brix data are averages of 4 harvests, except for Pittstown2013 (2 harvests), and North Brunswick 2014 and 2015 (5 harvests).

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, designated‘NJ08-08-6’ substantially as herein shown and described.